Civis Romanus Sum

This single plea sufficed to arrest arbitrary condemnation,
bonds, and scourging. Hence, when the centurion commanded Paul “to be
examined by scourging,” he virtually pleaded “Civis Romanus sum”; and
asked, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman citizen, and
uncondemned? ” (1) No Roman citizen could be condemned unheard; (2)
by the Valerian Law he could not be bound; (3) by the Sempronian Law it
was forbidden to scourge him, or to beat him with rods. (See
also Acts xvi. 37, etc.)